When the heart rules the mind

The Holy Father, as the Supreme Legislator for the Church universal, is within his rights to change beforehand the rubrics for the Mass. But he is not free to disregard them as he goes along. Indeed, a true spirit of humility would suggest submitting to them.

On the practical side of the equation, this move sends exactly the wrong signal to the Bernardin men — young and old — who still dominate this diocese. Try complaining to your pastor about a “minor” abuse of the liturgy or deviation from the missal now.

What a shame.

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14 Responses to “When the heart rules the mind”

The pandora’s box has officially been opened. Now every kind of rule breaking can be done because apparently our new Holy Father doesn’t give a rat’s behind about the rubrics. Had he changed the rule about men ahead of time, fine. He has such power. But he didn’t do so!

Every priest who has been washing the feet of women all these years against the wishes of Holy mother Church is now free to do as they please, and they can point to Pope Francis as an example.

It was noted over at Fr. Z’s that bishops and popes can dispense themselves from certain laws. If that was done, then Pope Francis didn’t break the law. But it does look bad (for us) even though it does look good (humble and kindly) to non-Catholics.

I don’t know what to think. But it’s not nearly as strange as some of the liturgical practices done by St. Philip Neri (and he loved the Mass and all liturgy intensely) in the name of humility and not letting himself look good to his followers. Deliberate mispronunciations, deliberately looking terrible at Mass, making his friends wear strange costumes to Mass so people would think them crazy or thoughtless… sometimes it’s not about setting a good example.

I don’t know. Clearly it’s good to show love to the unloved and respect to the unrespected, and maybe that does temporarily trump liturgical law if you’re the Servant of the Servants of God. But I’m pretty sure his intent is to set an example of love, not an example of liturgy. Indeed, his sermon from today says that pretty much straight out.

However, I’m sure that if St. Philip Neri were alive today, people would try to follow his liturgical example as an excuse for acting jerkish instead of as an inspiration to humility, because a lot of people today don’t fear God and love virtue. Similarly, I’m sure we’ll have to bear with a lot of wannabe lawbreakers trying to drive Mass into the ground without increasing their compassion one ounce. Don’t know what we can do about it, either.

I find all the uproar about this interesting. It is generally coming from the same folks who praised B16’s liturgies, including his placement of candles across the front of the altar. The GRIM says “The candles… are to be appropriately placed … and not interfere with the faithful’s clear view of what takes place at the altar or what is placed on it.” In some com box somewhere I noted this and was told that the Pope could lead by example.

The tradition of the Church includes a certain ruthlessness in times of need, something often exhibited by saints and good pastors. 99 sheep are left behind so that the shepherd can find the lost 100th. The good elder son doesn’t get the party with his friends or even a messenger that his prodigal brother’s come home. There’s an urgency of emergency that leaves all other good things behind.

That doesn’t mean that the 99 sheep aren’t loved. It means that the shepherd trusts them. It doesn’t mean that the elder son isn’t loved. It means that the father trusts him to be frugal with the whole estate.

Pope Francis knows that we know what we’re doing, so he’s not worried about us. We’re not lost. We may _feel_ lost when the shepherd leaves us behind, and it’s not great for us, and it includes the possibility that some of us will wander. But emergencies make the shepherd ruthless like that.

Some of those kids in prison are really lost. The one who said he was looking forward to having somebody call himself his father… ouch. So this is a sort of emergency operation with extraordinary powers.

The other interesting thing that hasn’t been mentioned is that Muslims also have a tradition of footwashing — but it’s only self-washing, as purification before prayer. Also, that men don’t touch unrelated women, and that feet are unclean and despised, and that it’s a great insult to even point your feet toward someone.

Pope Francis assaulted all those Muslim sensibilities, with an override of love. He is telling Muslim girls (and boys) that they are precious and beloved, whatever Islamic society tells them; and that God is a loving Father, not the god who condemns adoption of even human children as impossible; and that they should become Christian and worship Love Himself.

Pandora’s box was opened when Francis was named pope, and thank goodness for that decision! If we are truly going to move forward as a church, we must follow Pope Francis example of humbling himself before others, just as Jesus himself did at the Last Supper.